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Microsoft's Ongoing Share Repurchases Are a Great Use of Cash

It's better to give cash back than to waste it.

Yesterday, software giant Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced that it was boosting its quarterly dividend by $0.03, representing an increase of 8%. Microsoft's dividend payout was already pretty solid, and the increase makes the yield even more generous. At current prices, Microsoft's dividend yield is now a healthy 2.7% that is likely to satisfy most dividend investors.

Better yet, Microsoft's board of directors also authorized a new $40 billion share repurchase program. This new program will commence once the company completes its existing $40 billion share repurchase program at the end of this year. That program kicked off in 2013. Microsoft's market cap is currently $445 billion, so the new authorization represents nearly 10% of the Microsoft's current value.

Better than wasting it on blockbuster deals

Microsoft is no stranger to ongoing buybacks. While this new program isn't larger than the last one, it reaffirms Microsoft's commitment to returning cash to shareholders in an accretive fashion. The company's shares outstanding have been steadily declining over time as Microsoft buys back more than it doles out to employees and insiders, delivering tangible benefits to investors in the form of earnings accretion.

Much like its rival from Cupertino, I would expect Microsoft to continue funding share repurchases with debt. Just last month, Microsoft completed its largest bond offering ever, raising nearly $20 billion in fresh cash with maturities ranging from 2019 to 2056. That's needed considering the fact that of the $113.2 billion in total cash that Microsoft had at the end of June, a whopping $108.9 billion of it was held abroad. That wouldn't leave much cash for capital returns, which is why the debt raise was necessary.

This is all particularly pertinent given Microsoft's tendency to blow a bunch of money on dumb acquisitions. For instance, the company was reportedly debating an $8 billion acquisition of Slack, which would have almost certainly ended badly, at least at that price point. It's a good thing CEO Satya Nadella shot that idea down.

Author

Evan is a Senior Technology Specialist at The Motley Fool. He was previously a Senior Trading Specialist at Charles Schwab, and worked briefly at Tesla. Evan graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a CFA charterholder.